Method of and apparatus for producing rolls of adhesive material.



W. F. CODRINGTON. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS OFADHESIVE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 24 I9I4.

Patented Nov. 7, I916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET I.

. Inventor:

W. F. CUD-RINGTON. ATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS 0F ADHESIVE MATERlAL.APPLlCATlON FILED APR. 24, 19m.

METHOD OF AND APPAR Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEE1SSHEET 2.

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@Atty METHOD OF AND A W. F. CODRlNGTON. PPARMUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS OFADHESI Patented Nov. 7, 1916 9 SHEEI S-SHEET 3.

VE MATERIAL.

APPLICATlON FILED APR. 24 1914.

In ventor:

W. F. CODRINGTON. METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS OFADHESIVE MATERIAL. APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, I9I4. LQEAS. Patented Nov.7,19I6.

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I AI NW v I A r I W. F. CODRINGTON. ATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS 0F ADHAPPLICATION FILED APR.24,1914.

ESIVE MATERIAL.

METHOD OF AND APPAR Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

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ventor: Z 4/401 Atty W. F. CODRINGTQN METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FORPRODUCING ROLLS OF ADHESIVE M APPLICATION FILED APR.24,1914. T u lPatented NW. A, 19111 9 SHEEISSHEET 7.

ATERIAL.

W. F. CODRINGTON.

D APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS 0F ADHESIVE MATERIAL.

APPLICATION FILED APR-24,1914. N 1.2%,248. Patented Nov. z, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

METHOD OF AN venior:

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W. F. CODRINGTON. ATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS 0F ADHESIVE MATERIAL.APPLICATION FILED APR. 24, 1914.

METHOD OF AND APPAR Patented Nov. 7, 1916.

9 SHEETS-SHEET 9.

WILLIAM F. CODRINGTON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING ROLLS OF ADHESIVE MATERIAL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. '7, 1916.

Application filed April 24, 1914. Serial No. 834,050.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that LWVILLTAM F. Comancros, a citizen of the United States,residing at New York city, in the county of New York and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods ofand Apparatus for Producing Rolls of Adhesive Material, fully describedand represented in the following specification and the accompanyingdrawings, forming a part of the same.

This invention relates to the production of rolls of adhesive tape, andcomprises a method whereby such rolls are produced and apparatus for usein carrying out such method and producing such rolls.

In the manufacture of adhesive plaster which is commonly sold in theform of strips or tapes of various widths wound into small rolls eitheron flanged spools, or otherwise, it is the practice to produce such plaster by coating, usually on only one side, a conmaratively wide web ofcloth or other suitable fabric; to wind such coated web on a drum ofcomparatively large diameter, the coated web being usually of a lengthmany times greater than the length of the strips or tapes in the rollsas sold; to cut the materials so wound on the drum circumferentiallyinto strips or tapes in the desired width; and then strip the tapes thusformed from the drum in desired lengths and to wind the same into rollsto form the desired product, either with or without a strip of uncoatedcloth or other suitable material wound with the tape to lie between thesuccessive layers of the tape and to adhere to its coated side and forma protective covering therefor when the tape is subsequently unwound.

The present invention has been made with the object of providing animproved method and apparatus for drawing from such a sup ply drumeither one such tape at a time or a plurality of such tapessimultaneously and winding the same into the desired small rolls of apredetermined length of tape; and the invention aims to provide for therewinding of such tape or the production of rolls thereof rapidly and insuch manner that the tape shall be wound under a desired and readilycontrolled tension.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear hereinafter.

A-full understamling of the invention can best be given by a detaileddescription of a winding machine which I nowconsider to best embody thisapparatus feature of the invention and to be best adapted for carryingout my method, and of the operation of such machine, in connection withdrawings illustrating such a machine, and such a description will now begiven.

The accompanying drawings illustrate such an approved form of windingmachine adapted for carrying out my improved method and embodying theapparatus features of the invention.

In said drawings, Figure 1 shows the complete machine in frontelevation, parts of the winding mechanism being omitted for clearness;Fig. 2 is an end view looking from the right in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is anenlarged front view of the winding mechanism partly in elevation andpartly in section with parts broken away and parts omitted for the sakeof clearness; Fig. 4 is a rear elevation of the winding mechanism withthe middle portion of the mechanism broken away and parts omitted forthe sake of clearness; Fig. 5 is a plan view of the winding mechanismwith the middle portion of the mechanism broken away and parts omittedfor clearness; Fig. (l is a sectional view taken on lines 66 of Figs. 3,4 and 5; Fig. 7 is abroken detail view showing in perspective parts ofthe supply drum, brake and operating connections; Fig. 8 is a detailview of the threearmed stop lever and connecting parts looking from therear of the winding mechanism but showing the parts in a differentposition fromthat in which they are shown in Fig. 4; Fig. 9 is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8 but showing the parts in another position; Figs. 1 0,l], '12, '13 and 14. are diagrammatic views illustratii'ig a way ofthreading through the machine the ends of tapes to be wound; Fig. 1:) isa fragmentary view in section illustrating the winding of rolls of tapewith strips of covering material wound with the tapes and showingattachments with which the machine may be provided for this purpose;Figs. 16 and 17 are similar views further illustrating the winding ofrolls of tape with strips of covering material wound with the tapes andshowing attachments with which the machine may be provided for thispurpose; Fig. 18 is a,

broken view of a form of spindle used in winding covering strips withthe tapes; Fig. 19 is a detail sectional view showing means forconnecting the end of'the spindle shown in Fig. 18 tothe'spindle-driving shaft 47.

Referring to the drawings, the machine shown comprises means forsupporting and for controlling the rotation of a supply drum A, and awinding mechanism B. The supply drum support and the winding mechanismare mounted on a main frame 10 in such a way as to permit of relativeadjustment between the supply drum and the winding mechanismlongitudinally of the axis of the drum. To provide for such adjustmentin the machine shown, the supply drum is supported in bearings carriedby a supporting frame or carriage 11 which is mounted to slide on rods12 and 13; and for adjusting the position of the carriage to bring thedrum into the desired position relatively to the winding mechanism, anad-' I justing screwlet is provided having a hand wheel 15 or otherturning means. As hereinbefore explained, the adhesive'fabric, forwinding tapes of which the present machine is designed, is commonlyproduced in a comparatively wide web or sheet which is wound on a supplydrum and then cut circumferentially to form tapes or strips of thedesired width, usually from one-half to two or more inches wide. Theusual width of the web of cloth or other fabric thus coated and wound onthe drum is thirty-six inches, and the present machine has been built toaccommodate supply drums carrying fabric of this width, although it willbe understood, of course, that shorter drums or drums carrying tapesaggregating in width less than the maximum width might be used in themachine, or that the machine might be built for drums of greater or lessdimensions. The winding mechanism is for practical reasons mostadvantageously made of a size to have a capacity for winding at one timetapes from only a part of the longitudinal extent of the supply drum,the length of the receiving portion of the winding spindle in themachine as built being twelve inches; and. the tapes are taken firstfrom one portion of the supply drum and then the supply drum is shiftedto change the relative position of the drum and the winding mechanismand the tapes are taken from a new portion of the drum. It is alsodesirable, as will hereinafter appear, to wind at one time alternatetapes from the supply drum and then after shifting the drum to windother alternate tapes from the same portion of the drum.

The winding mechanism in the machine shown is mounted in front of thesupply drum on a table 16. The mechanism as shown comprises a feedingcylinder or roll by which the tapes a are drawn from the supply roll byengagement of the adhesive side of the tapes with the surface of thecylinder, a winding spindle by which the tapes are stripped from thefeed roll and wound into rolls, a roll over which the tapes pass fromthe supply drum to the feed roll and which is movable bodily for thepurpose of threading the tapes through the winding mechanism, automaticstop mechanism whereby the feeding of the tapes is stopped when apredetermined length thereof has been wound on the spindle, severingmeans whereby the wound portions of the tapes are out off, means forcontrolling the tension under which the tapes are wound on the spindle,and other features and parts. The various operative parts of the windingmechanism are mounted in a suitable frame comprising as shown a bed 20and end supports including uprights 21 and 22. The feeding cylinder orroll 25, which also serves as a measuring cylinder, is mounted free torotate on a shaft 26 between collars 27 and 28 which turn with theshaft, the collar 27 being mounted to slide on the shaft and having itsengaging face formed to interlock with the suitably formed end of thecylinder or roll 25, for example, as shown in Fig. 5, so that when thecollar is set up against the end of the cylinder the cylinder will becaused to rotate with the shaft, and when the collar is moved away fromthe end of the cylinder the cylinder may be adjusted angularly on theshaft for the purpose hereinafter pointed out. A set screw, as indicatedat 29, serves to lock the collar in operative position against the endof the cylinder. This cylinder should have a surface of such characterthat the tapes will adhere thereto sufiiciently to secure the requiredpull on the tapes for stripping them from the supply drum and yet topermit them to be stripped from the feed cylinder by the winding spindlewithout requiring too great tension and without the accumulation ofadhesive material on the surface of the cylinder, and with these objectsin view I find it most advantageous to make the cylinder of cast ironwith a surface which is machined but not polished. The circumference ofthe cylinder is best such that the lengths of tape desired to be Woundon the spindle will be even multiples of this circumference.

Mounted between the feeding roll and the supply drum, is a cylinder roll30 which in the winding operation of the mechanism serves as a guideroll over which the tapes pass from the supply drum to the feeding roll.This cylinder also has a surface to which the adhesive side of the tapeswill suitably adhere when the cylinder is serving a function which ithas in threading the chined but not polished surface. In order that thisroll may serve its function in threading the tapes through the windingmechanism, it is carried by arms 31 and 32 which extend upward from asleeve 33 mounted to turn on a supporting shaft 84. The arms are fast tothe sleeve so as to move together and the roll 30 is fast on its shaftwhich is journaled in bearings carried by the arms 31 and 32 and isprovided at one end with means whereby the shaft may be turned by hand,such as the disk 36 as shown.

The winding spindle 4:0 in the machine shown is a removable spindlewhich may be removed from the machine as for having flanged or otherspools or cores placed thereon for receiving the rolls of tape and forremoving the wound rolls from the spindle. The drawings show the spindleas provided with such flanged spools, Figs. 3 and 5 showing forclearness of illustration, however, only two such spools on the spindle.The spools 41, which are customarily of sheet metal, are placed on thespindle spaced by means of spacing collars 42, and when the propernumber of spools and collars have been placed on the spindle they areforced together and against a shoulder 43 at one end of the spindle bymeans of a nut 44 which screws on to the other end of the spindle. Thenut 44 is formed to rest in an open bearing 45 and the spindle ispositioned against endwise movement by a plate 46 the edge of whichenters a circumferential groove in the nut. The other end of the spindleis formed to connect with and to be supported from and rotated by ashort shaft 47. the ends of the shaft and of the spindle being formedone with a centering pin and a driving pin, and the other withcorresponding recesses for receiving such pins, as clearly shown in Fig.The bearing 45 for the end of the spindle which carries the nut H andthe bearings for the spindle driving shaft 47 are carried by arms 48 and49 respeetively which are fast on a shaft 50 mounted in the uprights 21and 22 forward of and somewhat below the feeding and measuring roll thisto permit the spindle to be shifted back and forth about the axis of theshaft 50 between the upper position shown by full lines in Fig. 6 to theforward position shown in Figs. 3 and 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. (3;suitable stops being provided for limiting the movement of the carryingarlns in either direction. The spindle nut 44 is conveniently providedwith a finger disk 51. For having the ends of the tapes to be woundbrought up against and caused to adhere to the cores of the spools onthe spindle, the spindle carrying arms are thrown up and back toposition the spindle as shown by full lines in Fig. (3, and the spindlemost desirably stands in this position during the winding operation.After the desired length of tape has been wound on the spools, thespindle is moved forward and downward to the position shown in Figs. 3and 5 and by dotted lines in.

Fig. (3, and the portions of the tapes between the spindle and the feedroll are thereby brought into position over a stationary cutting bladeor knife edge 55 with which a movable cutting blade 56 cooperates tosever the tapes, and the rolls of tape wound on the spindle are broughtinto contact with a brush The movable cutting blade is pivotally mountedat 57 to swing down to cooperate with the stationary blade 55 to severthe tapes with a shearing cut and when not in use is thrown up and backout of the way. After the tapes have been severed, the ends extendingfrom the feed roll rest on a support or table 58 adjacent and to therear of the knife The loose ends of the tapes extending from the woundrolls on the spindle may then be applied to the rolls by turning thespindle by hand in the winding direction, the brush 52 pressing the endsof the tapes against the rolls as the latter turn. The brush is carriedby an adjustable bracket 53.

The feeding and measuring roll and the spindle shaft are driven from adriving shaft 60 which may be driven from any suitable source of poweror it might be by hand. As shown, the shaft 60 receives its motion froman electric motor 61 through a belt. shall be driven during the windingoperation at an approximately even or uniform speed except at the startas explained below; and that the winding spindle shall be driven withgradually decreasing speed as required to compensate for the graduallyincreasing size of the rolls on the spindle and to take up the tapes asstripped at a uniform speed from the feeding roll. Such differentialmovement of the feeding roll and the winding spindle, or graduallydecreasing speed of the winding spindle with relation to the speed ofthe feeding roll, whether the speed of the feeding roll be uniform orotherwise, is secured in the machine shown by driving the spindle bymeans of a slip clutch. It is also desirable that the feeding roll shallbe driven through a slip clutch in order that the starting of thefeeding roll and of the supply drum. which is rotated through the pullof the feeding roll on the tapes, shall be somewhat gradual in order toavoid excessive strain on the tapes at starting, and also to reduce. therequired maximum speed of the spindle as hereinafter explained. Asshown. the driving shaft 60 carries a pinion 2 which drives a gear ()3which carries the driving member of a friction clutch 6-1, the drivenmember of which turns a large gear 65 with which a small It is desirablethat the feed roll 2 gear (36 on the spindle sl'iaft 47 meshes. Theclutch (34, which might be of any suitable style, is asshown a diskclutch having a plurality of driving disks mounted within and turningwith a cup (37 extending from the gear 63 and a plurality of drivendisks alternating with the driving disks and mounted free to moveaxially on but to turn with a sleeve 68 which forms the driven member ofthe clutch. The sleeve 68 and gear 65 are formed integral or otherwiseconnected to turn together and are mounted on the shaft 50, and the gear63 is journaled on the sleeve 68. The clutch plates are pressed togetherto cause the sleeve 68 and gear 65 to be driven by the rotation of thegear 63 by means of a plate 9 which is positioned by a stud extendinginto a central bore at the end of the shaft 50, and which plate isforced up to duty by means of a lever 70 which carries an adjustablebearing pin 71 the end of which bears on a boss on the plate.

The feed roll is driven through a similar clutch 75 mounted on the endof the feed roll shaft 26, the driving member of which is carried by a.gear 76 which meshes with the gear 63, and the clutch is operated tocause the shaft 26 and feed roll to rotate by means of a lever 77 havingan adjustable bearing pin 78.

The clutch levers are controlled by a rock shaft 80 mounted at theopposite end of the machine from the clutches and which is rocked bymeans of a hand control lever 81 extending across the front of themachine. The rock shaft 80 carries an upwardly eX- tending arm 82 whichis formed with two openings to receive the ends of two connecting rods83 and 84 respectively, which rods extend lengthwise of the machine toconnect at the opposite end of the machine with the clutch levers 70 and77, the rod 83 being connected with the lower end of the lever 70 andthe rod Stwith the lower end of the lever 77, the levers being pivotallysupported each at a point intermediate its rearing point and the pointof its connection with the connecting rod. Each of the rods 83 and 84 isprovided with an adjustable shoulder formed by a nut 85 screwed on tothe threaded end of the rod for engaging the outer side of the arm 82and with a springpressed collar 86 which is free to slide on the rod andwhich is pressed into engagement with the inner side of the arm 82 by aspring 87, the compression of which is adj ustable as by means of ascrew nut 88 on the rod. Vhen the control lever 81 is de pressed to rockthe shaft 80 to throw the arm 82 inward, therefore, the rods 83 and 84will be moved to the right in Fig. 4 to operate the clutch levers andcause the clutches to come into operation and the spindle and feedingroll to be driven, and

the power applied to the clutches will be exerted through the springs 87and the rel ative pressures exerted on the disks of the two clutcheswill depend upon the relative adjustment of these springs. Forconvenience, I provide means for adjusting the spring on both of the.rods 83 and 8%, but, obviously, to provide for relative adjustment ofthese springs and thereby of the pressures exerted on the clutch disks,it is only necessary that the spring on one of the rods shall beadjustable, as, for example, the spring on the rod 8% for operating thefeed roll clutch might be fixed and an adjusting nut provided only foradjusting the spring on the rod 83.

For lifting the ends of the tapes from the table 58 and applying thesame to the cores of the spools, there is provided a pick-up bar 90carried by a swinging arm 91 mounted fast on the shaft 34 and extendingup ward therefrom at the left hand end of the machine beyond the ends ofthe rolls 25 and 30. The pick-up bar is mounted to turn in a bearing inthe end of the arm 91 in which it may be turned by means of a fingerdisk 92 and it is provided with pick-up means formed best by a series ofspring pick-up fingers 93, the outer portions of which extendconcentrically with and part Way around the bar. When the bar is swungdownward and turned to bring the pick-up fingers into the position shownin the lowermost position of the bar as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 6, the ends of the fingers will. be pressed into engagement withthe adhesive side of the ends of the tapes resting on the table 58. Thetable should be slightly concave as shown in Fig. 6 to conform to thebend of the pick-up fingers so that the tapes will be caused to adherefirmly to the fingers. The pick-up bar being then lifted, the spindlebeing in the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6, the tapes may bebrought into contact with the cores of the spools on the spindle, and byturning the pick-up bar in the intermediate position indicated by dottedlines in Fig. 6, the tapes may be stripped from the pick-up fingers andwiped against the cores of the spools and so attached thereto, thespring fingers yielding as their ends pass against the cores of thespools and then springing slightly outward again so as to press the endsof the tapes about the cores. The pick-up bar is then moved farther upand back to the position shown by full lines in Fig. 6 Where it restsduring the winding operation. The pickup fingers should be of a widthnot greater than the narrowest tape the machine is intended to roll andwhen the machine is to be used for winding the tapes on flanged spoolsare so spaced and positioned lengthwise of the bar as to come betweenthe flanges of the spools on the spindle. Pickup fingers positioned forpicking up from the table 58 alternate tapes of the narrowest width fromthe supply drum and for entering between the flanges of spoolspositioned on the spindle for winding such narrow tapes. will also servefor picking up tapes of a width which is a multiple of the width of thenarrowest tapes and which are spaced apart a. distance equal to theirwidth and will clear the flanges of spools positioned on the spindle forwinding such wider tapes. For holding the arm 91 and the pick-up bar inthe position shown by full lines in Fig. 6, and for counterbalancingmore or less the weight of the bar and arm when moved forward anddownward, a spring 94 is con nected with a stud extending from an arm onthe end of the shaft 34, a suitable stop as indicated at 95 in Fig. 5being provided for limiting the backward movement of the arm.

In order that the rolls of tape wound on the spindle shall contain adesired length of tape, I provide automatically acting stop mechanismwhereby after the feeding and measuring cylinder has made apredetermined number of revolutions the operation of the windingmechanism is stopped. Such stop mechanism in the apparatus showncomprises means for positively stopping the rotation of the feeding andmeasuring cylinder, and means for braking the supply drum. Pivotallymounted at the rear side of the machine is a three-armed stop lever 100.one arm 101 of which extends upward in position to move into the path ofa stop pin 102, shown in Figs. 8 and 9 and in dotted lines in Fig. 4.extending from the outer face of the disk 28 and which thereforerevolves with the feeding and measuring cylinder. Another arm 103 of thelever, which extends horizonta lly, connects through a link 10s with anarm 105 carried by a rock shaft 100 which extends parallel with the axisand direction of longitudinal adjustment of the supply drum. Mounted toslide on this rock shaft and keyed thereto to turn therewith is an arm107 to which is connected one end of a brake band 108 which circles theend oi the drum and has its other end secured at the point 105). \Vhcnthe stop lever 100 is thrown to move its arm 10? downward, the shaft 100is rocked to move the arm 10? in the direction to tighten the brake bandon the drum. The arm 107 moves in a slotted guide 110 which projectsfrom the drum carriage 11 and serves to move the arm 107 on the shaft106 to cause it to follow the longitudinal movements of adjustment ofthe drum.

The stop lever is rocked to carry its stop arm into operative positionand to lighten the brake band on the supply drum by means of a strongspring 111, and when the machine is to start is moved in the oppositedirection against the tension of this spring to release the feedingcylinder and to loosen the brake band. and is held in such runningposition against the tension of the spring, by means of a locking lever112 which is automatically tripped to release the stop lever after apredetermined number of revolutions of the feeding cylinder. The lockinglever 112 cooperates with a third arm 113 of the stop lever and ispivotally mounted at a point 111 intermediate its ends to Stand when inlocking position transversely to the arm. 113. The connection betweenthe locking lever and the arm 113 is by means of a short link 115. Whenthe stop lever is swung into running position, the locking lever swingsunder tension of a spring 116 into locking position, as shown in Figs. 4and 9, throwing the link 115 into position to hold the stop leveragainst return movement by preventing upward movement, of the arm 113.When the looking lever is moved in the opposite direction against thetension of its spring, the link is swung out of its holding position,releasing the stop lever and allowing it to rock under the pull of thespring 111 back to its stop or operative position, the locking lever andthe link 115 then taking the position shown in Fig. 8.

The locking lever 112 is automatically tripped after the desiredoperation of the winding mechanism through the medium of a measuringdisk 120 carried by a shaft 121 which is given a slow rotation duringthe winding operation by means of a worm 122 on the feed cylinder shaftwhich drives a worm Wheel 123 on the shaft 121. The measuring diskcarries one or more projecting studs 124 adapted to engage the suitablyshaped upper end of the locking lever 112 and to force the end of thelever outward to release the stop lever as above explained. Themeasuring disk should be provided with a single'stud, or with two ormore equally spaced studs, according to the ratio between the speed ofrotation of the disk and of the fwding cylimler and according to thelength of tape to be wound or the number of complete turns the feedingcylinder is to make at each winding operation. To provide for changingthe length of tape wound, at each. operation, the measuring disk isdetachably mounted on the Shaft- 121 and a. number of disks according tothe number of different lengths of tape to be wound are provided eachhaving the number of equally spaced studs required for tripping thelocking lever after the required number of revolutions of the feedingand measuring cylinder. If. for example, a disk having four studs, asshown in the drawings, serves to stop the feeding and winding of thetapes after tapes five yards long have been wound, then a disk with twostuds p0- sitioned at diametrically opposite points would serve forwinding rolls of ten yards length, and a disk having a single stud wouldserve for winding rolls of twenty yards of tape.

In the apparatus shown I have for convenience in controlling theoperation of the winding mechanism provided for operating the stop leverand for controlling the driving clutches by a single control lever. Forthis purpose, the shaft 80 which is rocked by the control lever 81 isconnected with the stop lover through a link 130 which is connected atone end with an arm 131 fast on the shaft 80 and at the other end isconnected with the upwardly extending arm 101 of the stop lever througha short tripping link 132. When the winding mechanism is at rest withthe stop lever in the position shown in Fig. 8 and the control leverlifted to its 01f position, the link 132 will stand lengthwise of thelink 130 or in position to transmit endwise movement of the link to thestop lever, a suitable stop, as the adjustable stop 133 shown by dottedlines in Figs. 4, 8 and 9, being provided to limit the downward movementof the connecting ends of the links 130 and 132 to hold them in thisrelative operating position. lVhen the control lever is moved downward,the link 130 actingon the arm 101 of the stop lever through the trippinglink 1332 throws the stop lever to its running position shown in Fig. 4,in which position it is then locked by means of the locking lever 112 asbefore explained, the parts of the controlling mcclianism being then inthe position shownin Fig. 4 in which the machine is ready to start butwith the clutches not yet in operation. Slight further downward movementof the control lever will then first cause a slight further rocking ofthe stop lever by which through engagement of an adjustable stop 134 onthe arm 103 of the stop lever with the link 130 the end of the linkconnected with the tripping link 132 will be lifted to turn the trippinglink out of line with the link 130 thereby disconnecting the link 130from the stop levee. so that it may then be moved to the position shownin Fig. 0 without causing further movement of the stop lever and lcavingthe stop lever free toreturn to its stop position under the action ofits springl ll when the locking lever 112 is tripped. After the o')erative connection between the rock shaft 80 and the stop lever isthus broken, further downward movement of the control lever will resultin throwing the clutches 64k and 75 in operation to drive the windingspindle and feeding and measuring cylinder. It will be noted that whenthe stop lever has been moved to its running position and then by slightfurther movement of the control lever the operative connection betweenthe stop lever and the rock shaft 80 has been broken, the rock shaft. isalso thereby disconnected from the stop lever spring 111 so that in itsfurther movement the control lever will be free from the pull of thisspring. hen the locking lever 112 is tripped by a stud on the measuringdisk, the link 130 does not interfere with the return of the stop leverto its stop position shown in Fig. 8, but when the control lever hasbeen thereafter raised to rock the shaft 80 torelease the clutches andto withdraw the link 130 the end of the link connected with the trippinglink 132 drops and the tripping link turns until it comes in line againwith the link 130, the. links being thus returned to the position shownin Fig. 8 ready to throw the stop lever when the control lever is againdepressed. In order that the winding mechanism may be stopped at anytime before the predetermined length of tapes has been wound, aconnection is provided whereby if the control lever is raised when thecontrol devices are in the running position shown in Fig. 9, themovement of the link 130 will trip the locking lever to release the stoplever and permit it to move to its stop position. The connection betweenthe link .130 and the locking lever should be such as not to interferewith the moven'ient of the locking lcver wbenthe same is automaticallytripped. As shown, such connection is provided by a link 13:") extendingbetween the end of the link 130 and the locking lever and having a pinand slot connection at one end.

The operation of the machine will be generally understood from theforegoingdescription. but may be further briefly described as follows:Assuming that in the course of winding a series of alternate tapes froma portion of the winding drum on to flanged spools on the spindle awinding operation has been completed, the winding mechanism stopped andthe winding spindle moved to its forward lower position with spoolsagainst the. brush as shown in Fig. 5 and by dotted lines in Fig. 6; thepick-up bar 90 is then moved downward to the lowest position shown bydotted lines in Fig. 6 in which its pick-up fingers rest on theadliesive side of the tapes on the table 58. The knife 50 is thenlowered to cut (ill the tapes between the winding spindle and the feedroll, and the spindle may be given a partial rotation to cause the looseends of the tapes to be applied to the rolls of tape on the spindle bythe brush 51. The spindle with its rolls of tape thereon is then liftedfrom the machine, and the carrying arms 48 and 4!. are swung up and backto the position shown by full lines in Fig. (3, and another spindlehaving empty spools thereon is placed in position. The pick-up bar isthen lifted to raise the ends of the tapes from the table 58 and. bringthem against the cores of the spools on the spindle, and while in theintermediate position shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 the pick-up bar isturned to apply the ends of the tapes to the cores of the spools, andthen the picleup bar is moved on up to its normal out of the wayposition shown by full lines in Fig. 0. The machine is then ready to bestarted. again by the dc pression of the control lever Bl.

Downward movement of the control. lever by rocking the shaft firstthrows the stop lever against the tension of its spring into runningposition as shown in Fig. 4: thereby releasing the feeding cylinder andloosening the brake band on the supply drum, and the stop lever isautomatically locked against return movement by the locking lever 112.Further downward movement of the control lever first gives a slightfurther movement to the stop lever to lift the link 130 and break theconnection between the shaft 80 and the stop lever, and then causes thedriving clutches to be brought into operation to cause the feedingcylinder and the winding spindle to rotate. The feeding cylinder drawsthe tapes from the supply roll at an approximately constant speed, andby the rotation of the spindle the tapes are stripped from the feedingcylinder and wound into rolls under a tension which is dependent uponthe pressure applied to the disk of the clutch (34.

The relative adjustment of the springs 87 on the clutch operating rods83 and 84 and of the bearing pins 71 and 78 should be such that adriving force will be given to the spindle as soon as or a little beforethe feeding cylinder begins to rotate to cause the spindle to take upany slack which there may be inthe tapes between it and the feedingcylinder and thereafter to strip the tapes from the cylinder as fast asthey are advanced thereby; and such that the feeding cylinder willgradually but quite quickly attain its normal running speed andthereafter maintain the same during the winding operation, the clutch 75driving the feed roll practically without slip, and the clutch ()4providing a friction drive for the winding spindle whereby the tapeswill be wound under a tension depending upon the pressure applied to theclutch, the speed of rotation of the spindle gradually decreasing as thesize of the rolls of the tape wound thereon increases. Further downwardmovement of the control lever, or increased pressure thereon, willincrease the pressure applied to the clutch 64 and increase the tensionunder which the tapes are wound. Such further movement of the controllever will also increase the pressure on the feeding cylinder clutch 75,but this will not otherwise affect the operation of the windingmechanism since the feeding cylinder is normally driven without slip ofits clutch. Similarly a slight lifting of the control lever willdecrease the tension under which the tapes are wound.

It may be noted that a greater pull or tension on the tapes is requiredto strip the tapes from the supply drum than is required to strip themfrom the feeding cylinder, The springs on the clutch operating rods mustof course be of suitable relative strength and length so that byadjustment of the nuts 85 the desired control of the clutches may besecured. In the machine shown springs of approximately equal strengthand length have been used with good results. In order to avoid excessivespeeding-up of the spindle with increased slip of the spindle drivingclutch, the spindle gearing is advantageously timed so that when thespindle is rotating at its maximum speed relatively to the feedingcylinder the surface of the cores of the spools carried by the spindleis slightly less than the maximum surface speed of the cylinder. Thisdoes not interfere with the proper taking-up of the tapes by the spindlewhen the feeding cylinder is driven through a slip clutch. since at thestart of each winding operation the feeding cylinder does not attain itsnormal speed instantly, and by the time it does reach its normal. speedthe size of the rolls of tape on the spindle has increased so that themaximum surface speed thereof is in excess of the surface speed of thefeeding cylinder.

As the feeding cylinder commences the last rotation of the number ofrotations required to feed the desired length of tapes, the lockinglever 112 is tripped by a stud 124 on the measuring disk 120 and thestop lever moves into stop position, tightening the brake band on thesupply drum and bringing its stop arm 101 into the path of the stop pin102 so as to stop the feeding cylinder when it has completed its lastrotation. The operation of the winding mechanism is thus stopped and theoperator by throwing the control lever upward then throws out theclutches and returns the link 130 and tripping link 132 to operativeposition. When the feeding cylinder stops the spindle also stops undertension of the tapes. The slight continued rotation of the feedingcylinder after the tripping of the locking lever 112 causes a slightfurther movement of the measuring disk suflicient to carry the stud 12by which the locking lever has been tripped from the position where itstruck the end of the locking lever, as indicated by dotted lines inFig. 9, to the position just beyond the end of the locking lever asshown in Figs. 4 and 9 where it will not interfere with movement of thelocking lever to locking position. After the winding mechanism has cometo rest, the winding spindle is again moved forward to the position andafter these tapes have been taken from the supply drum, the drum will beshifted to bring another portion thereof into position to supply tapesto the winding meclmnism, and this shifting and positioning. of thesupply drum may be continued until all the tapes have been takentherefrom.

In starting to wind a series of tapes from the supply drum, it isdesirable that the ends of the tapes be threaded through the windingmechanism in proper alinement and so that the several tapes shall leavethe supply drum at points approximately in line longitudinally of thedrum. Owing to the adhesive character of the tape, this threadingthrough the winding mechanism properly is a matter of some diificulty,and although the threading may be accomplished in other ways, it is mostadvantageously effected in the following manner, as illustrated by thediagrammatic views in Figs. 10 to 14 inclusive. To prepare for threadinga series of tapes through the winding mechanism, the ends of the severaltapes, which are wound on the supply drum adhesive side in, are firstfolded back on a fold line extending longitudinally of the drum asrepresented at Z) in Fig. 10 so that a short length at the end of eachtape will present its adhesive side outermost. The guide roll 30 is thenmoved backward and pressed against the turned back ends of the tapes,the drum being turned to bring these ends into suitable position to beengaged by the roll. The roll is then given a partial rotation in thedirection of the arrow in Fig. 10 so that the tapes shall be securelyheld by the roll and the roll is moved away from the drum and the drumturned a short distance upward to strip a short length of the tapes fromthe drum as indicated in Fig. 11. The roll is then turned in theopposite direction, or as indicated by the arrow in Fig. 11.. to stripthe tapes from the roll and hold them back with their uncoated sideagainst the roll except for short turned back ends as shown in Fig. 12.The roll 30 is then moved further forward to press the edge of the foldof the tapes against the feeding and measuring cylinder 25 as shown inFig. 12, and the guide roll and the feeding cylinder are then turned byhand in opposite direction as indicated by the arrows in Figs. 12 and 13until the ends of the tapes have been unfolded and the adhesive sides ofthe extreme ends of the tapes transferred from the guide roll to thefeeding roll. The feeding roll is then turned in its running directionas indicated bythe arrow in Fig. 14 to carry the ends of the tapesaround the roll to its front side from which they may be stripped byhand and after the roll has been turned slightly farther laid over thetable 58 and over the edge of the knife 55. The tapes are then in POSI-tion to have their ends cut off even by the knife 56 and thereafter tobe lifted and ap plied to the winding spindle as before described. Itwill be noted that this method of threading the tapes through theWinding mechanism insures the proper alinement of the tapes on thefeeding cylinder and that the points at which the several tapes leavethe supply drum will be approximately in line longitudinally of thedrum.

It may be pointed out here that in the operation of winding the tapes onthe winding spindle the tension under which the tapes are wound iswholly independent of the tension under which the tapes are strippedfrom the supply drum by the feeding cylinder. Not only does this permitof desired adjustment and control of the winding tension without regardto the tension under which the tapes are pulled from the supply drum,which is sometimes greater than the desired winding tension on accountof the adhesion between the successive layers of tape on the drum, butif there should be a difference in lengths of the several tapes betweenthe guide roll and the supply drum the difference in tension under whichthe tapes are drawn from the supply drum resulting from the differentangles at which the tapes are stripped from the supply drum due to suchdifference in length of tape between the guide roll and the supply drumwould have no effect on the tension under which the tapes are wound onthe spindle. It should also be noted that by reason of the fact that thetapes are drawn by the winding spindle directly from the surface of thefeeding cylinder and the point at which each tape leaves the surface ofthe cylinder is determined by the tension or pull thereon, the tensionunder which each tape is wound is independent of the tension under whichthe other tapes are wound, and any slight difference in tension of thetapes when attached to the winding spindle, such as a slight relativeslackness in any of the tapes, or any such difference which mightdevelop during the winding, will be automatically taken up and adjustedby a relative change in the points at which the tapes leave the feedingcylinder. This would of course not he the case if the several tapes werepulled by the winding spindle from a definitely fixed line.

If a length of tape being wound shouldv contain an imperfect or faultyportion, it is desirable that the winding be stopped and such portion ofthe tape or tapes cut out, and if this is done it is necessary in orderthat the wound rolls shall contain the full measure of tape that anadditional length of tape be fed equal to the length cut out. Theangular adjustability of the feeding cylinder on its shaft enables thisto be readily accomplished. Suppose the machine to have been stoppedafter such a faulty portion of tape has been noticed passing through thewinding mechanism and after the faulty portion has been wound on thespindle; the spindle will be lowered and the tapes severed and thefaulty portions will be drawn off by hand from the rolls on the spindleand out off. The feeding cylinder is then disconnected from its shaft byloosening the set screw 29 and sliding the collar 27 out of engagementwith the end of the cylinder. The shaft is then turned backward anamount equal to a forward rotation which would feed a length of tapeequal to the length cut off and the collar 27 is then moved back andagain secured in its holding position to fasten the cylinder to theshaft. This backward turning of the shaft without turning the cylindergives a backward movement to the measuring disk sufficient to cause anadditional length of tape to be fed equal to the length of tape cut out.The spindle with its partly wound rolls of tape is then returned to thewinding position and the ends of the tape are lifted from the table 58by operation of the pickup bar and applied to the partly wound rolls onthe spindle and the winding is then continued.

It is sometimes desirable to wind the tapes with a strip of uncoatedcloth or other suitable material wound with the tape to lie between thelayers of tape in the roll and to adhere to the coated side of the tapeto form a protective covering therefor when the tape is unwound. Thetapes so covered are usually comparatively wide tapes. Figs. 15 to 19illustrate a way of adapting the machine shown to the winding of acovering strip with the tape in a roll wound directly on the Windingspindle without using any core provided by a flanged spool or otherwise.Such adaptation of the machine to the winding of a covering strip withthe tape involves the use of a split Winding spindle 40 and theprovision of means for guiding the covering strip to the spindle. Suchguiding means as shown guides the covering strip to the spindle from apoint between the feeding cylinder 25 and the cutting edge 55, thespindle being in the lower forward position. The covering strip orstrips 0, which may be led to the machine from a suitably supportedsupply roll not shown, and which may be somewhat wider than the tape ifdesired, passes about guide rolls 140 and 141 and thence downwardly andbeneath a. vertically movable floating guide roll 142 from which itpasses forward to join the adhesive tape at the winding spindle. Theguide rolls are mounted in standards which may be removably mounted onthe uprights 21 and 22, one of such standards, 143, being shown in Figs.15, 16 and 17, the floating guide roll 142 having its spindle endsextending into vertical slots in the standards to permit it to movevertically between an upper or winding position as shown in Fig. 16 towhich it is raised and in which it is held by the tension of thecovering strip, and a lower position as shown in Figs. 15 and 17 inwhich it rests on the covering strip and adhesive tape and serves tohold the ends of the strip and tape in position on the table 58 as shownin Fig. 15 after wound portions of the strip and tape have been cut off.The split spindle 4:0 is provided at one end with a solid end portion 44formed to rest and turn in the open bearing 45 carried by the arm 48 andwith a circumferential groove for receiving the edge of the positioningplate 46, and also with a finger disk 51*. The spindle is split clear toits other end, and for receiving and supporting this split end of thespindle and for rotating the spindle by connection with this split end,a socket-piece 145 is provided secured to the end of the spindle shaft47 by means of a stud which extends into the central recess in the endof the shaft and is formed with a threaded end to screw into a threadedportion of the recess to secure the socket-piece to the shaft. Thesocket piece is formed with a central socket of a size to receive thesplit end of the spindle and which is provided with a cross piece 14:6to extend into the space between the separated portions of the ends ofthe spindle.

To wind a tape with a covering strip, and assuming first that a singletape of considerable width. is to be wound with a covering strip of thesame width, the tape having been threaded through the winding mechanismand the covering strip 0 having been threaded between the guide rolls14:0 and 141 and downward boneatlnand forward froiuthc floating guideroll 1 12, and the ends of the tape and covering strip lying over thetable 58 having been cut off even between the knife edges .35 and 56,then preparatory to winding the ends of the tape and covering strip arefirst attached to the spindle by inserting the ends in the slot oropening of the spindle and then turning the spindle to wrap the materialabout the same. For convenience in getting the ends of the tape andcovering strips into the slot of the spindle, the table 58 is formedwith a recess or depression 147 extending parallel with the knife edge55 and of a width and depth corresponding substantially to the width andthickness of one part or side of the split spindle so that when the endsof the tape and covering strip are lying on the table over the recesstherein the spindle may be brought into the desired relation with theends of the tape and covering strip by moving it endwise with one sidein the recess in the table beneath the material and the other side overthe material. Having been so brought in the desired relationship withthe ends of the tape and covering strip, and the control lever havingbeen moved to release the feeding'cylinder and the supply drum, thespindle is turned to wrap the ends of the tape and measuring strip aboutthe spindle sufficiently to hold them securely thereto and is thenlifted and carried forward and placed in winding position with its splitend inserted in the socket-piece 145. The control lever being then givena further movement to bring the driving clutches into operation, thefeeding cylinder and the spindle will be driven as in the operationbefore described and the tape and covering strip will be wound on thespindle. During the winding, the tension on the covering strip willcause the floating guide roll 142 to be lifted to the position shown inFig. 16 so that the covering strip will not come into contact with thetape which is being wound adhesive side up until the tape and strip cometogether at the winding point. thus avoiding any fullness of thecovering strip in the wound roll which might result if the tape andstrip were brought together before reaching the spindle. The windingoperation will continue until, when the desired length of tape has beenwound, the winding mechanism is automatically stopped as beforedescribed, after which the wound tape and covering strip may be cut oflfrom the webs by operating the knife 56.

I t is considered desirable when a covering strip is wound with theadhesive tape that the outer end of the covering strip shall extendsomewhat beyond the end of the tape. This result may be secured with themechanism shown by pulling forward a little additional length of thecovering strip after the winding operation. has (eased and before thetape and strip are cut off so as to form a loop or loose bend in, thecovering strip between the knife edge and the wound roll as indicated inFig. 17. The strip may be so pulled forward by the operator taking holdof the strip with his fingers or any suitable instrument, and after thestrip has been pulled forward and before the knife is operated, thestrip is released to allow the portion over the table to move backslightly to permit the floating guide roll 142 to drop into the positionshown in Figs. 17 and 15, in which position it serves to hold the endsof the tape and covering strip in position on ting.

the table during and subsequent to the cut- After a loop has been formedin the tape as indicated in Fig. 17, then when the loose ends are laidon to the roll on the spindle, the end of the covering stri will extendas desired beyond the end of the tape. \Vhen the spindle with its woundroll thereon has been removed from the winding mechanisn'i it will befree to be pulled out from the roll of tape and covering strip since theadhesive side of the tape has not been allowed to come into contact withthe spindle.

\Vhile it has been assumed for convenience in the above description ofoperation that a single wide tape with a covering strip of correspondingwidth was being wound, it is obvious that a plurality of tapes may bewound at a single operation in the same manner, a covering strip ofcorresponding width being wound with each tape.

It is to be understood that the invention so far as it relates to theapparatus is not to be limited to the exact construction, arrangementand combination of parts shown and to which the foregoing descriptionhas been largely confined, but that it includes changes andmodifications thereof Within the claims; and that the method formingpart of the invention. is not limited to the use of any particularapparatus but may be carried out with the aid of any apparatus adaptedfor such purpose.

What is claimed is:

1. The method of producing rolls of adhesive tape, which consists inproducing a relatively wide web of the adhesive material wound on asupply drum, cutting the web wound on the supply drum circumferentiallvinto a plurality of tapes of equal width, unwinding a plurality ofalternate tapes from the supply drum simultaneously and winding the sameon a winding spindle, and thereafter unwinding other alternate tapesfrom the supply drum and winding the same on the winding spindle.

2. The method of producing rolls of adhesive tape. which consists indrawing the tape from a supply roll and applying it as it is withdrawnfrom the supply roll to a rotating cylinder to the surface of which theadhesive side of the tape adheres, and leading the tape from saidcylinder to a. winding spindle by the rotation of which the tape isstripped from the c linder and wound on the spindle, whereby the tape iswound on the spindle under a tension which is independent of the tensionunder which the tape is drawn from the supply roll.

3. The method of producing rolls of adhesive tape, which consists indrawing the tape from a supply roll by means of a feeding cylinder tothe surface of which the adhesive side of the tape adheres. and leadingthe tape from the feeding cylinder to a winding spindle by the rotation.of which the tape is stripped from the cylinder and wound on thespindle, whereby the tape is wound on the spindle under a tension whichis independent of the tension under which the tape is drawn from thesupply roll.

4. The method of producing rolls of adhesive tape. which consists insimultaneously drawing a plurality of tapes from a supply roll andapplying them as thev are withdrawn from the supply roll to a rotatingcylinder to the surface of which the adhesive side of the tapes adheres,and leading the tapes from said cylinder to a winding spindle by therotation of which the tapes are stripped from the cylinder and wound onthe spindle, whereby each tape is wound onthe spindle under a tensionwhich is independent of the tension under which the tapes are drawn fromthe supply roll and independent of the tension under which the othertape or tapes are wound on the spindle.

The method of producing rolls of adhesive tape, which consists insimultaneously drawing a plurality of tapes from a supply roll by meansof a feed cylinder to which the adhesive side of the tape adheres, andleading the tapes from said cylinder to a winding spindle by therotation of which the tapes are stripped from the cylinder and wound onthe spindle, whereby each tape is wound on the spindle under a tensionwhich is independent of the tension under which the tapes are drawn fromthe supply roll and independent of the tension under which the othertape or tapes are wound on the spindle.

6. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprisingmeans for simultaneously drawing a plurality of tapes from a supplydrum, and winding means for winding each tape into a roll as it is drawnfrom the supply drum and under a tension which is independent of thetension under which the tapes are drawn from the supply drum andindependent of the tension under which the other tape or tapes are woundinto rolls.

7. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprisingfeeding means for drawing the adhesive tape from a supply roll andincluding a member having a, surface to which the tape adheres, windingmeans for stripping the tape from said member of the feeding means andfor winding it into a roll under a tension which is independent of thetension under which the tape is drawn from the supply roll, and drivingmeans for the winding means adapted to drive the winding means at aspeed controlled by the adhesion of the tape to said member of thefeeding means.

8. A winding machine comprising means for simultaneously drawing aplurality of strips of the material to be wound from a supply drum, andwinding means for winding each strip into a. roll as it is drawn fromthe drum and under a tension which is independent of the tension underwhich. the strips are drawn from the drum and independent of the tensionunder which the other strip or strips are wound into rolls.

9. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprising asupport for a supply drum, a feeding cylinder for drawing the tape fromthe supply drum and which has a surface to which the tape will adhere,driven winding means for stripping the tape from said feeding cylinderand winding it into a roll, and driving means for the winding meansadapted to drive the winding means at a speed controlled by the adhesionof the tape to the feeding cylinder.

10. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprising asupport for a supply drum having a plurality of adhesive tapes woundthereon, a feed roll having a surface to which the tapes adhere and bywhich a plurality of tapes are simultaneously drawn from the supplydrum, and a winding spindle by which the tapes are stripped from thefeed roll and wound into rolls.

11. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprising asupport for a supply drum, a feed roll having a surface to which thetape adheres and by which the tape is drawn from the supply drum,winding means for stripping the tape from the feed roll and winding itinto rolls, means for rotating the feed roll, and means controlledaccording to the rotation of the feed roll for automaticallyinterrupting the rotation thereof after it has made a predeterminedmovement.

12. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive tape, comprising asupport for a supply drum, a feed roll having a surface to which thetape adheres and by which the tape is drawn from the supply drum, meansfor stripping the tape from the feed roll and winding it into rolls,means for rotating the feed roll, and means controlled according to therotation of the feed roll for automatically interrupting the rotationthereof and for braking the supply drum.

13. A winding machine for producing rolls of adhesive. tape, comprisinga support for a supply drum, a brake for the supply drum, a feed rollhaving a surface to which the tape adheres and by which the tape isdrawn from the supply drum, means for stripping the tape from the feedroll and winding it into rolls, means for rotating the feed roll, andautomatic stop mechanism operating to bring the supply drum brake intooperation and to thereafter stop the rotation of the feed roll after apredetermined number of rotations thereof.

14. A winding machine for producing

